Toaster



Oct. 24, 1944. o. M. ANDERSON TOASTER Filed Sepf. 18, 1941 l 3 SheeS.-Sheel'l l OSCAR 4m/'DERSON M f f 1 oct. 24, 1944. Q M, ANDERSON 2,361,078

TOASTER Filed sept. 1a, 1941 s sheets-sheet 2 OSCAR MANDERSON i944- o. M. ANDERSON 2,361,078

TOASTER I Filed Sept. 18, 1941 5 Shee'lI/S-Sheet 5 4.5 GOOG@ OO OOOOOOOOOv O'OOOOOOOO OOOOOQOOO OOOOOOOOG Patented Oct. 24,*

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE TOASTER Oscar M. Anderson, New Britain. Conn.. assigner to Landers, Frary & Clark, New Britain, Conn., a corporation o! Connecticut Application september is, 1941, serial No. 411301 (ci. sis-334) 8 Claims.

. The present invention relates to electric toasters and more generally to those of the automatic type wherein at the completion of a toasting period the toast is automatically raised out of the toaster ovens and the electric circuit cut oi.

More specifically, the automatic toaster disclosed is of the type having a bread carrier for receiving the slices of bread, an ejector or elevating means for raising the carrier at the completion of a toasting period, and means for simultaneously lowering the carrier and the elevator and actuating a timing and switch mechanism.

An object of the present invention is to provide in toasters of the above-indicated type improved means whereby the carrier may be raised at any time during a toasting period to permit an inspection ofthe toast without interfering with the timing and automatic switch mechanism,

Another object is to provide in a. toaster of the above-indicated type improved means whereby upon the completion of a toasting period the carrier will be automatically raised by the ejector and without subjecting the mechanism to undue shock, thus assuring continuous and accurate operation of the device and more particularly the sensitive parts thereof, such as the timing and switch mechanism.

A still further objectis to provide improved means for controlling the consistency of the toasting; this being accomplished by a thermostat in circuit with the heating elements of the toaster and adapted to prevent operation of the timing mechanism prior to the toaster oven reaching a predetermined temperature, and the further provision of means for rapidly cooling the thermostat and ovens upon removal of bread therefrom at the completion of a toasting period.

A still further object is to provide a toaster wherein substantially all of the parts may be readily stamped and formed from sheet metal and are so constructed as to permit quick assembly and, when assembled, provide a toaster which is dependable and accuratey in operation.

Other objects will be in part obvious and in part pointed out more in detail hereinafter.

The invention accordingly consists in the features of construction, combination of elements, and arrangement of parts which will be exemplied in the construction hereafter set forth and the scope of the application of which will be indicated in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings:

Figure 1 is a side view of the toaster with the cuter casing partially broken away and with the parts in normal position prior to the initiation of a toasting operation;

Fig. 2 is a plan view of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3A is an end view looking from the right in Fig. 1 with the outer casing removed and the parts in the same position as in Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is an end view showing the ejector or elevator operating means with the parts positioned as in Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 4, but with the parts in position during a toasting operation;

Fig. 6 is a bottom view of the toaster;

Fig. 'I is a fragmentary view similar to Fig. 1, but with the parts in position during a toasting operation; and

Fig. 8 is a diagrammatic view of the electric circuit and thermostatic control means therefor.

Referring to the drawings. the toaster includes an outer casing comprising a base frame I 0 of plastic or other suitable material, side walls i2, end walls I4, and a top plate I6, all of which may be stamped from suitable sheet metal. In the embodiment shown. the end walls I4 and top plate I6 are stamped from a single sheet of metal bent into U shape, and the top plate is further provided with rectangular openings I8 to permit the insertion of the, bread into the toaster ovens in the usual manner.

Also carried by the base frame I Il and located within the outer casing is a. metal base plate 20 from which there vertically extends a rear plate 22, intermediate plate 24, and front plate 26. The rear and intermediate plates 22 and 24 are spaced apart approximately the width of a slice of bread and are connected at their upper and lower ends by four transversely spaced cross members 28, which members also support four transversely spaced heating elements 3U.

The transverse cross members 28 also support a plurality of vertically arranged, longitudinally spaced wire elements 32 positioned in approximate alignment with the ade edges of the top plate openings I8 and serving to guide the slices of bread when inserted into the toaster and for maintaining same out of direct contact with the heating elements 30. With this construction it will be seen that the rear and intermediate plates and heating elements denne a. pair oi toasting ovens 3| into which the bread may be inserted through the top plate openings i8.

To raise and lower the bread, there is provided in each oven a, carrier,34 having one free end in the oven and its other end extending through a :vertical slot in the intermediate plate 24 to connect on the opposite side of the plate with a transverse cross member 38. The cross member 38 is connected to a vertical carrier slide 40 which comprises a U-shaped member having a long vertical leg 4l and laterally extending top and bottom arms 42 and 44. The arms 42 and 44 have aligned openings for positioning the slide on a. circular guidepost 46 upon which it may be vertically raised or lowered. The guidepost 46 is rigidly positioned by securing its upper end in a ilange 48 turned rearwardly from the front plate 'of the front plate 26.

26 andits lower end in an ear 50 also turned rearwardly from the forward plate 26. s

The carrier slide 40 is freely slidable/y on the `maintained in its uppermost or bread receiving position by an elevator or ejector 56. The elevator 56 (see Fig. 4) also comprises a U-shaped member having a long vertical leg 58' provided with laterally extending top and bottom arms 60 and 62 having aligned openings for positioning the elevator for slidable movement on the gudepost 46. The vertical legs of the elevator 56 and the carrier slide 40 are of substantially the same length (see Fig. 4), and they are so arranged on the guidepost that the lateral arms of the ejector or elevator 56 respectively underlie the lateral legs of the carrier slide 40; the reasons for this being hereinafter apparent.

The elevator 56 is normally maintained in its raised position and returned to raised position from lowered position by a spring motor, generally designated as 63; this motor being so constructed as to greatly reduce the upward speed of travel of the ejector upon being released at the completion of toasting operation, thus reducing the amount of shock resulting from such upward travel. More specifically, the spring motor 63 includes a relatively light coiled spring 64 having its lower end secured to an ear 66 extending laterally from the lower end of the elevator 56 and ,its upper end secured vto the inner end of a lever 68. The lever 68 is pivotally supported on a stud 10 extending forwardly from the front plate 26 and is so mounted as to provide a long inner arm portion 69 and a short outer arm portion 1|.

The spring motor further includes a spring 12 of greater strength than spring 64, and this latter spring has its upper end connected to the outer end of lever 68 and its lower end to a, lever 14. The lever 'I4 has its upper end pivotally mounted on the stud 10, and its lower end extends through the base plate of the casing and is normally secured in any one of a plurality of positions by a bolt 80 extending through a slot in the lower end of the lever and an aligned opening in an ear projecting downwardly from the bottom edge 'I'he upper end of the lever 'I4 is also bent rearwardly to provide a transverse abutment 8| which functions as a limiting stop for the lever 68. As the lever 'I4 is normally xed, the lower end of spring 12 will also be normally fixed; it being apparent, however', that by adjusting lever 'l4 about its pivot the tension of the spring l2 may be varied, thus changing the tension of the spring motor.

With the spring motor 63 constructed in the manner described, the parts normally assume the position shown in Fig. 4 with substantially no tension on the springs 64 and 12 due to the relative light weight of the elevator.` Upon theinitiation of a toasting operation by lowering the elevator, the spring 64 will initially expand until the tension thereon, plus the leverage of the long portion of arm 68, overcomes the tension of the spring 12. Thereafter the arm S8 will pivot and the elevator and spring 64 will in effect be lowered as a unit to the position shown in Fig. 5 with substantially no additional tension being placed on the spring 64.

In this way, the spring 64 -ls tensioned only through a partial downward movement of the elevator, and thus the total tension placed thereon is substantially less than that which would result were the spring tensioned throughout the total distance of travel of the elevator. As a result, upon the release of the elevator from its toasting position, the spring 12 will initially plvot the lever 68 in a counterclockwise direction and the spring 64 and elevator will simultaneously raise as a unit. Thereafter when the lever 68 has stopped against the abutment 8|, spring 64 will act to raise the elevator through the remaining distance, of travel. In this manner, because of the counterbalancing and the cooperative relationship of the two springs, the elevator is raised from toasting to electing position with relatively slow motion and will come to rest with substantially no shock and without affecting the adjustments of the automatic mechanism or placing undue wear on the parts.

In order to maintain the elevator 56 in its lowermost position against the tension of the spring motor 63, the elevator 56 is further provided with a pin 82 extending forwardly through the vertical slot 43 of the front plate 26. To cooperate with the pin and hold it in lowermost position, there is provided a latch 88 pivotally mounted on a pin 98 in vertical alignment with the slot 43. The latch is normally urged to rotate in a clockwise direction (as viewed in Fig. 3) by a spring 92 secured at one end to an arm 89 extending downwardly from the latch pivot point and its other ,end to an ear projecting from the front wall 26. The rotation of the latch 88 is limited by a stop 94, and, when so limited, a hooi; 96 provided on the upper end thereof lies across the slot 43 (see dotted position in Fig. 3) and in the path of movement of the elevator pin 82. With this arrangement, upon the lowering of the elevator the pin will engage the camming end 98 of the latch to pivot it counterclockwise until the pin is lowered beneath the hook 96, whereupon the spring 82 will then bias the latch into latching position over the pin and retain the elevator in its lowermost or toasting position.

To automatically release the latch 88 at the completion of a toasting period, there is asso-v ciated therewith an automatic switch |00, a clock mechanism or timing means |0|, and adjusting means |03 for setting the timing means to produce light or dark toast; all of the foregoing means being of conventional design. Associated with the switch |00 is a setting lever |04 and, with the timing means |0|, a winding lever |02; these levers being interconnected by a link |05 whereby upon depressing the lever |04 the switch of a toasting period and hold it released until.'

lever |04 is reset.

To reset lever |04 there is further provided starting means, generally designated as ||2,

which, upon being lowered, simultaneously lowers the carrier slide 40, the elevator 66, and engages the lever |04 to set the switch |00 and wind the clock mechanismv |I. More particularly, the starting means also includes a U-shaped member ||4 havingtop and bottom laterally turned arms IIB and ||8 provided with alignedopenings for slidably mounting the member on the guidepost 46. This member is so arranged that the lateral bottom arm ||6 overlies the laterally extending arms of the carrier slide and the elevator whereby, upon lowering of the member ||4 the carrier and elevator will be simultaneously lowered therewith. The upper lateral arm ||6 of the member ||4 is positioned above the lateral arms of the carrier slide and elevator, and the length of the vertical arm ||4 is such that after the parts are lowered to toasting position the starting means will be automatically returned to raised position (see Figs. 5 and '1), whereas the elevator will be latched in lower position and the carrierA gravity held in lower position.

To set the lever |04 upon the lowering of the starting means, there is secured to the U-'shaped member ||4 a handle member |20 which extends forwardly through the slot 43 in the front plate, and just forwardly of the front plate casing a depending setting arm |26. The arm |26 is of such length that its lower end will, upon the lowering of the starting means, engage the cam follower |06 of the setting lever to pivot same and simultaneously set the switch |00 and wind the clock mechanism |0|.

The starting means ||2 is normally maintained in its uppermost position by a spring |28 having its lowermost end secured to 'an ear |30 extending laterally from the member ||4 and its upper end to the inturned bracket 48 of the front plate 26. Obviously upon the lowering of the starting means the spring |28 will be tensioned, and, upon release of the starting means, the spring |28 will return same to its upper position. In order to absorb the shock upon this return movement, there may further be provided on the guidepost 46 a coiled spring positioned intermediate of the lateral arm H6 and the bracket 48.

To conveniently manipulate the starting means.

the handle member |20 also extends through the slot 45 in the end wall I4 and on its outer end carries a handle |22 oi plastic or other suitable material. As best seen in Figs. 1 and 2, the handle |22 is substantially wider than the handle 54 of the bread carrier, and normally the latter handle immediately underlies the former handle. However, when the parts have been lowered to initiate a toasting operation, the handle |22 will again be raised, whereas the handle 54 will remain in lowered position (see Fig. '1) permitting convenient manipulation of the carrier.

Briefly reviewing the operation oi the toaster to this point, the parts normally assume lthe position shown in Figs. l, 3, and 4. Following the insertion of a piece of bread into the toasting ovens, the handle |22 may be depressed, whereupon the lower lateral arm H6 of the starting means U-shaped member H4 will simultaneously force the carrier slide and elevator downwardly. In like manner, the setting lever |26 will be simultaneously lowered to engage the switch lever |04 to set the switch and wind the timing mechanism. The elevator pin 82 will also bias the latch 84 to cam the latching hook 94 out of its path of movement until it clears same, whereupon the latch will be automatically returned to latching position to retain the elevator in its lowermost position.

Upon the release of the handle |22, the spring |28v will return the starting means to its uppermost position, as indicated in Fig. 5', whereas the carrier slide, elevator, and spring motor will be in the positions shown in Figs. 5 and '1.-' The elevator will remain in this position until the clock mechanism has unwound suiliciently to raise the lever |04, opening the switch and pivoting the latch out of latchi'ng position. The carrier will likewise remain in the position shown in Fig. 5 unless it is desired to inspect the: toast, which can be done by grasping the handle- 54, which now will be positioned adjacent the bottom of the-casing, to raise the slide independently of allof the other elements. 'I'his can be accomplished because the vertical lengths of the U 'members of the carrier slide and elevator are such as to permit a full raising of the carrier before the lower lateral leg of the carrier slide engages against the top lateral arm of the elevator. It is also apparent thatv when the carrier is raised, the timing mechanism Iwill not be disturbed.

Finally, when the clock mechanism has run for a predetermined period, the latch 8B will be pivoted out of ythepath of the elevator pin 82, whereupon the'spring motor will then raise the elevator andi simultaneously raise the carrier.

' In addition to the foregoing, the present toaster also embodies braking means for preventing starting or the timing means until the toaster ovensV have reached a predetermined temperature. To accomplish this, there is pivotally mounted on the rear face of the front plate 26 a control lever |32. Extending forwardly from the lever |32 and through a slot in the front plate is a second lever |36 which, after passing through the slot, is bent forwardly and parallel to lever |32 and then terminatesin a b rake |38 adapted to normally rest on the clock mechanism escapement wheel |46. Also carried on the rear end of the lever |32 is a depending rod |42 having mounted thereon a vertically adjustable weight |44 which normally tends to pivot lever |32 downwardly and maintain brake |36 in braking engagement with the es-f capement wheel.

To release the braking means, the lower end of the rod |42 passes through an opening |46 in directly into the heating circuit by a winding |66 (see Figs.v 1 and 8) and', when cold, it holds the arm |47 of the lever |46 out of contact with the weight |44 on the rod |42. Upon heating of the thermostat |52, it will turn the lever |46 in a clockwise direction until the arm |41 engages the weight |44, raising the brake and permitting'the starting of the clock. In this way, by adjusting the weight |44 on the rod |42, the temperature at which the clock is to be released may be controlled.

To further make the thermostatic element sublect to direct heat of the circuit and not the ra dient heat of the ovens, it will be seen `by refer ence to Fig. l that it is located intermediate oi the heating elements and the bottom plate 2t. Immediately beneath the element the base plate '20 is provided with a large number of perfora- -ovens cool of! below the desired temperature, the

thermostat will again operate the braking means. With this arrangement, the ovens will always operate within a small range of temperature, resulting in consistent toasting of the bread.

For convenience in manufacture, the openings y| maybemade in-a plate |60 which is hinged -to the bottom plate to provide a cleaning and inspection door. g A i `AlthoughV a fully-automatic toaster has been shown, it is obvious that .many features, such,.for

example, as the elevator latching and raising means, could be incorporated in toasters lacking the automatic features. l

- As many; changes could be made in the above construction and many apparently widely difl'er- -ent embodimentsof this invention could be made without departing from the scope thereof, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not `in a limiting sense.

' It isalso to be understood that the language used in the following claims is intended to cover alltof the generic and speciilc features of the invention herein described and all statements of the scope of the invention which, as a matter of language, might be saidto fall therebetween.

I claim as my invention:

l. In anr electric toaster, a casing having a toaster oven,a carrier within' the oven, an ejector on which the carrier is freely supported, said carrier and ejector being movable from raised to-'iowered position, spring means normally maintaining said ejector in raised position, restrainingmeans for holding said ejector in lowered position when moved thereto, settable means for automatically releasing said restraining means ai; he completion of a toasting operation, starting means movable from raised to lowered positionfsaid carrier lying in the path of movement `\`of,said starting means and engageable thereby when -the starting means is moved to lowered position-to force said carrier and ejector to lowered position whereby said restraining means will engage said ejector, means connected with said' starting means for setting said settable means 'when said starting means is moved to lower position and spring means.y for returning said starting. means to raised-position and out of engagement with said carrier, said. carrier then being rmovable to raised position independent of the restrained-ejector but normally remaining at rest thereon.

2. In a toaster, an ejector, manual means for lowering the ejector, means for latching the ejector in lowered position, means for releasing the latching means, and means for automatically raising the ejector upon being released and ,ccm-V prisng a resilient member tensioned by the lowering of the ejector and having a lower end secured to the ejector and an upper end secured to aA member mounted to move in a direction to lower the upper end of the resilient member, and means for restraining movement of said movable member until a predetermined tension has been placed on said resilient member.

y3. In a toaster, an ejector, manual means for `connected to the lever ing and lowering the v moved thereto,

asenors.

lowering the ejector, means for latching the ejector in lowered position, means for releasing the latching means, 'and means for automatically 'raising the ejector upon being released and comprising a spring motor including a pivoted lever, a spring secured to each end of said lever, one of said springs being lsecured at its opposlteend to said ejector and the other spring having its other end xed, the tension of said springs being so proportioned that upon predetermined downward movement of the ejector said lever will pivot in a direction to lower said ejector connected spring simultaneously with movement oi the ejector.

4. In a toaster, an ejector, manual means for lowering said ejector, means for latching the ejector in lowered position, means for releasing the latching means, means for automatically raising the ejector upon being released and comprising a spring motor including a pivoted lever, a spring having its upper end secured to said lever and its lower end secured to the ejector, a second spring of greater strength than said rst spring, having its upper end secured to said lever and its lower end xed, said second spring normally resisting pivoting of the lever until a predetermined tension has been placed on said first spring upon lowering of the ejector, whereupon said lever will pivot in a direction to lower said rst spring simultaneously with the ejector.

5. In a toaster, an ejector, manual means for lowering said ejector, means for latching the ejector in lowered position, means for releasing the latching means, means for automatically vraising the ejector upon being released and comprising a pivoted lever, a iirst spring having one end connected to the lever and its'other end secured to the ejector, a second spring having one end and the other end fixed, said second spring normally resisting pivoting of the lever until a predetermined tension has been f upper end secured to a member mounted to move in a direction to lower the upper end of the resil- -ient member, and means for -restraining movement of said movable member until a predetermined tension has been placed on. said resilient member.

7. In an electric toaster, a casing having a Y toaster oven, an ejector mounted for vertical movement between a. raised and a lowered position, a carrier extending into said oven and freely supported for movement therewith, said carrier havinga. handle externally of the casing for rais carrier with respect to the ejector when the latter is held in lowered position, spring means normally urgingy said ejector into raised position,

for holding said ejector in lowered position when releasing said restraining means at the comple-` tion of a toasting operation, manually operable starting means movable between a raised position and a lowered position and operable upon being lowered to move said carrier and ejector to lowered position and to set said settable means, and spring means for returning said starting releasable restraining means settable means for automatically means to raised position after it has been moved to lowered position.

8. In an electric toaster, a casing having a toaster oven, an ejector mounted at one end of the oven for vertical movement between raised and lowered position, a, toast carrier extending into said oven and freely supported on said ejector and mounted for vertical movement between raised and lowered positions, said carrier having a handle externally of the casing for raising and lowering the carrier with respect to the ejector when the latter is held in lowered position, spring means normally urging said ejector into raised position, releasable latching means for restraining said ejector in lowered position, settable means for automatically releasing said labelling means at the completion of a toasting period. starting means mounted for vertical movement between raised and lowered positions and having a handle located above said first mentioned handle, means on said starting means for engaging said carrier to lower the same and the ejector to lowered position when said starting means is lowered, means connected to said starting means for setting said settable means when the said starting means is lowered to lowered position and spring means for returning said starting means to raised position after the same has been lowered.

OSCAR M. ANDERSON. 

